Archives

NOTE: We do not keep “service files” of individual riflemen in our archives.Some 19th century nominal rolls and orders are listed below. If you are looking for anything we have connected to individuals in our collections, we recommend you check our online catalog under the Search Terms: People. This will include the most up to date information we have cataloged and entered into our database. Service records for those serving since the South African War (1899-1901) may be available from Library and Archives Canada – search for Military Service Records.

NOTE: The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archives condemns the use of racist and other offensive statements, comments and rhetoric in any form. However, the Museum is committed to not hiding from the full history of our Regiment and its members. It is from this commitment to acknowledge and learn from painful and uncomfortable moments, that we make our archival materials available.

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum includes an archival collection with materials dating back to the 1860’s. We are in the process of digitizing a selection of this material and including it here. Our thanks to Anne Dondertman, Acting Director of the Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library, University of Toronto for allowing us use of their book scanner.

NEW!You can now also see a large collection of our digitized photos on our Flickr site.

00053 – This is a bound record book of handwritten Nominal (or attendance) Rolls. Each roll includes a “staff” or headquarters listing in then rolls by company. Blank pages have not been included. See item description for further details about content and information.

00128 – Bound Book of Remembrance containing a brief history of the Queen’s Own Rifles up to 1931, list of battle honours, VC recipients, decorations received in the Great War, honour roll for those who died in the Fenian Raids, South Africa, and the Great War, and Orders of Service for the dedications of the Memorial Cross and the Memorial Shrine. (Searchable pdf format.)

Regimental Orders

These are 19th century bound books of handwritten regimental orders signed by the Adjutants. These include training, supply and administration instructions, and personnel administration including enrollments, transfers, postings, promotions and discharges with individuals named. Also include in some cases, district and brigade (Camp Niagara) orders.

Modern day typed orders include training, supply and administration instructions, and personnel administration including enrollments, transfers, postings, promotions and discharges with individuals named. These files have OCR applied so they are searchable.

Diary of Edgar Henry Redway (pdf) – Redway joined the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada in the 1890s and later served in the South African War with the Royal Canadian Regiment Special Service Battalion.

Memoir of Rfn J. William Ross – 1944-1945 – Bill joined the QOR one month before D-Day at the age of 18 and after landing at Juno Beach and fighting through Europe, was discharged in Canada on February 1, 1946 just before his 21st birthday.

Standing Orders Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada

Standing Orders spell out organization, detailed dress regulations and orders of dress, mess, committees, band, drill and a raft of other need to know for all officers, NCOs and men of the regiment. These were updated periodically and the following are examples of several versions from our archives (scans courtesy of CWO Shannon):

These searchable nominal rolls issued with Militia Orders in 1915, includes service number, rank, name, previous military service, name of next of kin, address of next of kin, country of birth, and date and place taken on strength.

3rd Bn CEF Nominal Roll (pdf 7.8 MB) Raised in Toronto and consisted primarily with soldiers from the 2nd Regiment, Queen’s Own Rifles; the 10th Regiment (later the Royal Regiment of Canada); and the Governor General’s Body Guards (GGBG) (amalgamated in 1936 with The Mississauga Horse to become The Governor General’s Horse Guards).

Official Nominal Roll of “B” Company QOR just prior to D-Day(pdf 1.2 MB) Searchable document includes B Company soldiers’ name; name, relationship and address of next of kin; and date for those killed in action (k/a) or died of wounds (d/w). At the end is a list of all those Queen’s Own Rifles killed during the Second World War and a two maps of Aldershot Camp in England.

11 thoughts on “Archives”

DO YOU HAVE INFO ON A” VICTOR CURCIO ” RIFLEMAN Q O R C D A
I don’t think he fought in any war and he was my 90 yr old mother s
brother ,he passed away in 1993.
my mom passed and i saw his gravestone when i had a visit. I remember him very little….i just wondered how long he was in service.

Your uncle was wounded at 2nd Ypres, probably 23 – 24th April. His wounds may have been serious enough for him to be sent home for recovery and then discharged. He re-enlisted 10 April 1917 with a new Service Number … 2751117.

Sorry for the delay in responding but its been very busy for the past few weeks:
1) The QOR were a militia regiment at the time (and still are) and they were based out of University Avenue Armouries in Toronto.
2) At this time no names came up in our catalogue for your uncle however a we are still entering information into the database and its possible something might come up again in the future.
3) Yes he would have – you can see information about the various medals here: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations

Have been researching the 3rd Battalion and the men who served in it for a number of years now, in an attempt to assemble a Nominal Roll and sources of information are varied. Two common sources are the War Diary and Part II Orders of the Battalion, as well as diaries, books written by survivors and newspapers.
The photo can be sent to my email geswitzer@rogers.com

Hi David – I’m afraid that the cross doesn’t ring a bell with me either. If you could send a photo of it to museum@qormuseum.org I’ll see if I can track down anyone else who might know something about it.

Hello,
Your grandfather: 18855 Martinovitch, John (originally in the 9th Battalion from Edmonton) was taken prisoner (POW) on April 24, 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres, along with 281 Other Ranks and 7 Officers of the 3rd Battalion.
He was held in Giessen Lager (Camp) and later interred in Switzerland.
He was Repatriated December 9th, 1918.
Struck off Strength (SOS) in Edmonton Alberta.
Died October 19, 1938 in USA.

Great site!! I am looking for information on my father who was in QOR sometime in the early – mid 1960’s. I know he was a bugle player. His name was Ronald G. Horrocks born: Aug 30, 1936 and passed away September 25,1970. My two uncles were also in QOR at the same time. Their names are George (Beaube) Reece and Elwood (Woody) Newhall. Any information or remembrances would be greatly appreciated.
Thanking everyone in advance,
Linda R. Horrocks